Thirty-Seven Thousand and Six Hundred

Thirty-seven thousand and six hundred dollars in debt 

Only nineteen and not halfway higher educated 

Not enough time to get a job to save for next semester 

Not enough money to pay off interest on what I owe 

Not enough savings to provide a buffer anymore

Thirty-seven thousand and six hundred dollars in debt 

They tell me to be optimistic and look forward to my future 

Tough to be optimistic when tuition continues to go up 

Tough to be optimistic when financial aid goes down 

Tough to look forward to the unknown of whether I walk across the stage

They shower me with praise and motivation 

But they pickpocket me at every turn 

They tell me I am important, that I am not simply a number 

But right now, to them, 

 I am number thirty-seven thousand and six hundred.